Re: [Harp-L] Transition from Pucker to Tongue Block

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Matt Smart wrote:
> I am currently "woodshedding" and attempting to make the 
> transition from pucker to tongue block. I can, do vamping, 
> fluttering, octaves, single notes, bending etc...but find it 
> difficult to achieve the same tone and bending is tough. One 
> person recommended the u block on lower notes, but that feels 
> like cheating to me. Any advice? I am am open to any 
> suggestions on playing..adding tongue blocking to popular
> licks...resources...anything. Thanks

One thing that's important to remember when adding any new technique 
to your playing is that learning is a process.  Don't look for 
a "breakthrough" that will change your playing overnight.  Leverage 
what you already do well to coax yourself in the direction you want 
to go.  

I learned to tongue block octaves 30 years ago from listening to 
Paul Butterfield records, and after much practice I could move 
effortlessly -- thoughtlessly -- between puckered single notes and 
tongue blocked octaves.  When I started trying to tongue block 
single notes, the simple act of putting my tongue on the harmonica 
generated octave playing.  

I talked to Joe Filisko at the Harmonica Masterclass in Austin last 
year and Joe suggested that I not try to force myself to play only 
the single note, but rather to try and first simply emphasize one 
side or the other of the octave (ideally, both, changing at will).  
Eventually, he maintained, I would learn to play only one of those 
notes, without unlearning the octave technique.  Process...

Unfortunately, I haven't worked on it very hard.  I'm still trying 
to get my first tongue blocked overblow.

-tim